Zipper foot adapter shoes



y 2, 1970 R. B. HOWELL 3,511,199

ZIPPER FOOT ADAPTER SHOES Filed Sept. 15, 1968 2 SheetsSheet l y 970 R. B. HOWELL 3,511,199

ZIPPER FOOT ADAPTER SHOES Filed Sept. 13, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,511,199 ZIPPER FOOT ADAPTER SHOES Robert B. Howell, 2115 Madrona Point Drive, Bremerton, Wash. 98310 Filed Sept. 13, 1968, Ser. No. 761,018 Int. Cl. D051) 29/00 US. Cl. 112235 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A slip-on attachment for the horizontally adjustable foot component of a presser foot. Guide avenues for the respective tooth chains of a zipper are formed in separate side parts of the attachment. The side parts are situated laterally outwardly of the foot component and are interconnected by either fixed or adjustable cross-tie members. Recesses in the side parts mate with recesses in the foot component to form vertical needle receiving apertures which are used with the guide avenues.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to shoe type attachments for laterally adjustable presser foot components, carrying guide means for use in installing a zipper or other elongated article needing guiding, e.g. cording, which the foot component is itself not adapted to install.

Description of the prior art In a conventional household sewing machine, the upand-down movement of the needle bar which carries the sewing needle is synchronized with the action of an advancing mechanism which functions to advance the material being sewed an incremental amount between stitches. In order to obtain a regular, continuous feed the material must be pressed down against the advance mechanism throughout the sewing operation. This function is performed by what is known as a presser foot. Generally speaking, a presser foot is a plate-like element which is supported in a position over the advancement mechanism by a component termed a presser bar.

The zipper foot is a specialized form of presser foot. It performs the function of an ordinary presser foot, i.e. it presses the material against the advanced mechanism, and in addition it serves to guide the zipper tape being sewn into a proper sewing position with respect to the needle. Most usually, when a zipper is to be sewn to a garment or the like, the regular presser foot is removed from the presser bar and the zipper foot is secured in its place. Most sewing machine manufacturers make a zipper foot attachment for use with its particular make of sewing machine. Until only within the last few years the only type of zipper being marketed was a zipper having relatively flat teeth which are exposed to view unless material is intentionally sewn over them. As a result, the zipper foot attachments furnished by the manufacturers are in most instances, at least, especially adapted for sewing only the older exposed tooth type zippers. Relatively recently the so called invisible or concealed zipper was introduced to the market. With the passage of time the popularity of this latter type of zipper has increased until now sales of such zippers constitute a significant part of the total sales of zippers of all types.

My prior U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,251,326, 3,259,090, 3,342,- 151, and 3,349,736 all relate to zipper foot attachments which are especially adapted for use in installing concealed zippers. The devices of these patents are entire attachments adapted to be substituted completely for the presser foot or zipper foot furnished with the sewing machine.

Dickson et al. 2,909,136, Burgess 3,024,751, and Y0- shida 3,098,460, are examples of other types of full attachments which have been proposed.

Micale 3,294,048 discloses a presser foot which is especially designed so that it can be used for both ordinary sewing and for installing the exposed tooth type of zippers.

Brenner 3,140,680 and Brenner Re. 25,945 both disclose a specially constructed zipper foot attachment comprising a foot component formed to include a longitudinal bottom groove extending along one side thereof, and opening laterally outwardly as well as downwardly, and a laterally adjustable material limiting member bordering such groove.

Summary of the invention The present invention relates to adapter shoes which are merely slippable onto, or are otherwise securable to, the foot component of the type of zipper foot attachment furnished by the sewing machine manufacturer, or in some instances the foot component of an ordinary presser foot. In preferred form, the adapter shoe is formed to include guide means for guiding the respective tooth chains of a concealed type zipper. The adapter shoe has opposite side parts disposed outwardly adjacent the opposite sides of the foot component, and each side part carries one of the guide means.

In some embodiments of the invention the two side parts are rigidly interconnected by a web, and the side parts and the web together form a channel in which the foot component is inserted, with a friction fit between the two being the only means of securing the adapter shoe on the foot component. Other embodiments comprise adjustable cross-tie means permitting adjustment of the space between the two side parts, so that the adapter shoe can be made to fit foot components of differing widths.

These and other features of the invention are exemplified by the embodiments described below with reference to the drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of one form of zipper foot attachment furnished by a major sewing machine manufacturer with its sewing machines, and an adapter shoe typifying certain aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. 1 wherein all the parts are assembled together and are being used for installing a concealed zipper;

FIG. 3 is a view partially in front elevation and partially in cross section, taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the adapter shoe installed on the foot component of the standard zipper foot attachment;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an adjustable form of adapter shoe;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the adapter shoe shown by FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational View of the adapter shoe shown by FIGS. 5 and 6;

hFIG. 8 is an isometric view of another form of adapter s 0e;

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 3, but of the form of adapter shown by FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the adapter shoe of FIGS. 8 and 9, installed on the foot component of a standard zipper foot attachment;

FIG. 11 is an exploded isometric view of a converter shoe similar to the one shown by FIGS. 8-10, but which is constructed to be adjustable; and

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the adapter shoe of FIG. 11 installed on the foot component of a standard zipper foot attachment.

Description of the preferred embodiments The standard zipper foot attachment shown by FIG. 1 comprises a foot component and a support leg 12. Foot component 10 includes a pair of upstanding lugs 14 in the heel region thereof. The lower end portion 16 of leg 12 is located in the space between the lugs 14, and is pivotally connected to the lugs 14 by means of a transverse pivot pin 18. The lower surface 19 (FIG. 3) of the lower end portion 16 of mounting leg 12 is spaced above the adjoining upper surface portion of the foot component 10. As a result of the arrangement just described, the foot component 10 is not rigid relative to leg 12, but rather is free for pivotal movement within the limits of the gap below surface 19.

The foot component 10 has generally planar side guide surfaces 20, 22, and a flat bottom. The front end of component 10 is laterally rounded and both the front and rear end turn upwardly a slight amount. A needle receiving recess 24 is formed in surface and a like recess 26 is formed in surface 22.

A transverse mounting bar 28 projects laterally from a line of integral connection with the upper end portion of leg 12. A clamp screw 30 serves to adjustably connect mounting bar 28 to a carrier plate 32. A horizontally elongated clamp screw slot 33 is formed in bar 28. A threaded opening 34 is provided in plate 32 to receive the threaded end portion 36 of the clamp screw 30. When assembled the adjustment screw 30 extends first through a compression spring 38, then through the slot 33, and then threads into the opening 34. Plate 32 may have a rearwardly turned upper edge portion 40 adapted to overhang the upper edge of mounting bar 28 when the two components are secured together. A mounting channel 42 is made integral with the clamping plate 32. The lower end portion of a presser bar 44 is inserted into the channels inner space with the flat side face 46 thereof tight against the inner surface of web 48. A clamp screw receiving opening 50 in presser bar 44 is aligned with a clamp screw receiving slot 52 in web 48. A clamping screw 54 extending through both slot 52 and opening 59 is tightened to secure the attachment to the presser bar 44. The attachment is horizontally adjusted by appropriate manipulation of the clamp screw 30 and sidewise movement of the subassembly 10, 12, 28 relative to the member 32, 42. In use, the teeth on one tape of an exposed type zipper are guided relatively along guide surface 20 and the teeth one the other tape are guided along guide surface 22. During use of guide surface 20 the needle N received in recess 24, and during use of guide surface 22 the needle N is received in recess 26.

The adapter shoe S1 shown by FIGS. 1-3 comprises a pair of elongated side parts 56, 58 interconnected by a relatively thin bottom web 60. Adapter shoe S1 is installed by merely snapping in onto the foot component 10. As clearly shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, the foot component 10 enters from above relatively into the channel formed between the side parts 56, 58 and the above web 60. The fit is snug enough that the adapter shoe S1 is frictionally retained on the foot component 10.

Guide avenues for the respective chains of Zipper teeth 76 of a concealed type zipper are formed in the side parts 56, 58. In shoe adapter S1 the guide avenues are shown in the form of longitudinal grooves 60, 62 which extend in parallelism with the stitch line. Vertically extending, laterally aligned recesses 66, 68 are formed in the forward, inner side portions of the side parts 56, 58. The adapter shoe S1 is positioned on the foot component 10 in a position wherein the recesses 66, 68 of the adapter shoe S1 are laterally aligned with the recesses 24, 26, respectively, of the foot component 10. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the mated recesses 24, 66 and 22, 68 form laterally elongated oval shaped needle receiving apertures. This aperture shape is continued downwardly through the web region of the adapter shoe S1. Shallower recesses 70, 72 may be formed in rearward, inner side portions of the side parts 56, 58 to accommodate the outstanding ends of the pivot pin 18 (FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIG. 3, the adapter shoe S1 is shown resting on one of the two fabric tapes 74 of the zipper, and the zipper teeth 76 are shown traveling relatively through the channel 62. Adjustment of the lateral spacing of the teeth 76 relative to the needle N in the sewing region is affected by loosening clamp screw 30 and then moving the assembly 10, 12, 28 relative to components 32, 34. Clamp screw 30 is then tightened to hold the parts together in the selected position. Guide channel 64 is used for guiding the teeth on the opposite side tape (not shown) of the zipper.

FIGS. 5-7 relate to an adapter shoe S2 which is similar in its basic make-up to adapter shoe S1, but differs therefrom in that it is constructed in a manner such that the width dimension of the channel which receives the foot component 10 is adjustable to fit foot components of differing widths. In this form the web 60' is attached to the side part 56, but not to the second side part 58'. Transverse guide bores 78, 80 are formed in front and rear end portions, respectively, of side part 58'. Guide rods 82, 84 are received in the bores 78, 80 respectively. The inner end portions 86, 88 of the rods 82, 84 are anchored in side part 56'. The rods 82, 84 project laterally outwardly from side part 58' and includes head portions 90, 92, respectively. Helical coil type compression springs 94, 96 surround the outboard portions of the rods 82, 84 and function to bias the side part 58 laterally inwardly. As in the earlier form S1, the side parts 56, 58' include needle receiving recesses 66', 68' and pivot pin accommodating recesses 7 0, 72'.

As will be evident, the adapter shoe S2 is merely slipped onto the foot component 10, as before. As the foot component 10 is forced relatively into the channel formed between the two side parts 56', 58' it urges the movable side part 58' laterally outwardly in opposition to the force of springs 94, 96 until the width of the foot component 10 is accommodated in the channel. The springs 94, 96 help create the friction forces which hold the adapter shoe S2 on the foot component 10.

The adapter shoe S3 shown by FIGS. 8-10 differs from adapter shoe S1 only in that the interconnecting web, designated 68", interconnects between upper rather than lower portions of the two side parts, designated 56", 58". Also, in this form the bottom surface of the foot component 10 provides the surface which rests on the material. As best shown by FIG. 9, the depth of the adapter shoe S3 below the web 60" is substantially equal to the depth of the foot component 10 in that region.

Adapter shoe S4, shown by FIGS. 11 and 12, includes some of the features of both adapter shoe S2 and adapter shoe S3. The web means in this form comprises front and rear adjustable cross ties including guide pins 82, 84', and compression springs 94, 96, of the type used in adapter shoe S2, and bar like web parts 100, 102 through which the rods 82, 84 extend. The inner end portions 86, 88' of the rods 82', 84' are anchored in side part 56'. Slightly oversized transverse bores 104, 106 extend axially through the web parts 100, 102 and transversely through the front and rear end portions of side part 58. The intermediate portions of the guide rods 82', 84' are received in the bores 104, 106, respectively.

As in the case of adapter shoe S3, adapter shoe S4 is installed onto the foot component 10 from above, and the bottom surface of the foot component 10 functions as the pressure applying surface which rests n the material.

The foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments is provided for the purpose of giving the reader an understanding of the invention. The following claims serve to define the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

a presser foot attachment comprising a foot component including guide means for a chain of zipper teeth of a first type of zipper and adjustable mounting means securable to a presser bar, permitting lateral adjustment of the foot component relative to the presser bar; and

an adapter shoe securable to said foot component and including a channel type guide for a second type of zipper which in its entirety is positioned laterally outwardly from the said guide means for a first type of zipper.

2. In combination:

a presser foot attachment comprising a foot component and adjustable mounting means securable to a presser bar, permitting lateral adjustment of the foot component relative to the presser bar; and

an adapter shoe securable to said foot component and comprising a pair of elongated side parts between which the foot component is snugly received, and said guide means for a chain of zipper teeth comprises a first guide avenue formed in one of said side parts, for guiding the teeth one one side of a zipper, and a second guide avenue formed in said second side part, for guiding the teeth on the second side of the zipper.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said side parts are interconnected by adjustable cross-tie means, so that the spacing between the two side parts can be adjusted to suit difierent width foot components.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein said web spans between upper portions of said side parts, and the depth of the side parts below the web substantially equals the depth of the foot component, so that the bottom surface of the foot component will ride on material.

5. 'In combination:

a presser foot attachment comprising a foot component and adjustable mounting means securable to a presser bar, permitting lateral adjustment of the foot component relative to the presser bar; and

an adapter shoe securable to said foot component and comprising a pair of elongated side parts and a web together defining a channel for snugly receiving the foot component of said attachment, with the said guide means for a zipper comprising a first guide avenue formed in one of the side parts of said adapter shoe, for guiding the teeth on one side of a zipper, and a second guide avenue formed in the second side part of the adapter shoe, for guiding the teeth on the second side of the zipper.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said foot component has generally planar opposite side guide surfaces and a needle receiving recess is formed in each side guide surface, and each side part of said adapter shoe includes an inside recess which is alignable with a related one of the needle receiving openings in the foot component to form a needle receiving aperture.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein said web is relatively thin and spans between the lower portions of said side parts, and said foot component is received between said side parts and rest on top of said web, with said web including a bottom material contacting surface.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said web is integrally attached to both of said side parts and rigidly interconnects said side parts.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein said web is rigidly secured to one said side parts and is free of connection to the other side part, and wherein said side parts are interconnected by adjustable cross-tie means, so that the width of the channel formed between the two side parts can be adjusted to suit different width foot components.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,945 12/1965 Brenner 11215l 2,960,948 11/1960 Weir 112-935 X 3,024,751 3/1962 Burgess 112-235 3,233,572 2/1966 Kalish 112235 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

